Penn customarily plays faster but slowed it down in Saturday's Ivy League semifinals and won 62-60 in overtime. Expect a repeat approach against favored Yale. The Bulldogs score at a decent rate but usually take their sweet time, with a 305th ranking for possessions per game. Bulldogs encounters wth Ivy opponents generated 142 ppg, about the same as this total. Wth an NCAA berth at stake and both sides exercising as much patience as -- if not more than -- usual, that number likely will not be reached.
Ethan Roberts (16.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) is out due to a concussion, which makes Penn's task a lot tougher. Without him, the Quakers struggled offensively but squeaked past Harvard in the semifinals. Now they take on a Yale team that swept them in the regular season, with Roberts on the floor. Roberts scored 12 points in each of the regular-season matchups with Yale, and his presence opened things up for other Penn players. Without him, Yale should win by double digits.
